by Adam Makos

Review

My grandfather flew B-24s for the Army Air Corps in World War II, and he recommended this book to his entire family. If you enjoyed Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, you should give this book a try.

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II, is about American pilot Charlie Brown and German pilot Franz Stigler, both 2nd lieutenants. During his first bomber mission, Lieutenant Brown's plane was badly damaged. As he struggled to return to base, he encountered Lieutenant Stigler in his Messerschmitt fighter.

The book is not just about their encounter, but also about the personal histories of the two pilots, the aftermath of the encounter, and what happened when they met again as aged veterans. I was moved by the story, and it also helped me understand a little more about the experiences that formed my grandfather's life as a military pilot.